[JTh]

I admired the Petrea volubilis at the same time and place as you, John, and it  is high on my wish list since then, but I suppose  it will just stay there; I don't think it will enjoy the  climate in Halkidiki (northern Greece).

[Hilary]

Hoodia gordonii, Bushman’s hat

A stamp issued by the Republique Du Cameroun in 1963

This plant grows naturally in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia
After it was falsely claimed that the plant had appetite suppressing properties it is now threatened by collectors and is an endangered species
You can read all about it here
http://pza.sanbi.org/hoodia-gordonii

There is no mention of this plant in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN but there is a reference to it in this Forum
Go to CACTI AND SUCCULENTS  June 6th 2016 where Charithea has posted many photos from a visit to an exhibition by the Cyprus Cactus and Succulent Society.

I have lifted the photos of Hoodia gordonii for you to see

[Hilary]

Tulipa gesneriana.

A stamp issued by San Marino in 1953. There are nine stamps in a series named FLOWERS.
I do love these brightly coloured stamps.

Not having a photo of a blue tulip I was looking round the house for something suitable and my eyes fell upon this tile we bought in Turkey several years ago. I don’t know if you can say “my eyes fell” when the tile in question was on top of the kitchen cupboards.
In fact I can’t remember buying the tile and was only sure it came from Turkey when we looked at the back!

Hybrid tulips are mentioned by Cali Doxiadis in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 69, July 2012 in DAISY PREJUDICE

[Hilary]

Tyto alba, Barn Owl

A stamp, in a four stamp series, issued by the Royal Mail in 1986
The series is named    
NATURE CONSERVATION
 SPECIES AT RISK

Looking around the house for something showing an owl I remembered that my children’s school books always had an owl logo on the back and the letters
ΟΕΔΒ Οργανισμός Εκδόσεως Διδακτικών Βιβλίων meaning Organization for the Publishing of Educational Books. This organization started in 1937 under another name which changed to the above in the 1960’s and was closed in 2012 when another organization took over the role.
The small owl, Athena noctua, accompanies the goddess Athena and is used as a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. Anyone visiting Greece or coming across a Greek 1 Euro coin will see image of the Owl of Athena   on the obverse side.

There are plenty of articles mentioning owls in
THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN. I chose A ROOM WITH A VIEW
 by Louis Marcelin- Rice , an article I have been wanting to refer to, in this thread,  for a long time.
THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 46 October 2006

[Hilary]

Camellia Showa-Ni-Sakae

A pale pink Camellia featured in a stamp issued by New Zealand in 1992. There are 6 stamps in the series.

I don’t have a photo of this particular Camellia but looked for photos of the palest pink Camellia we had seen on our visit to the  Royal Botanic Garden, Madrid in the spring this year.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’
Who remembers the film Brigadoon?

Camellia Showa-Ni-Sakae is a sasanqua Camellia. What that means I don’t actually know .However, sasanqua Camellia are mentioned, in a list, in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 19 Winter 2000.
PROBLEMS OF ACLIMATSATION: DROUGHT by  Piero Caneti
The article is illustrated by drawings by Freda Cox

[Hilary]

Citrus sinensis, Orange

A stamp issued in a five stamp series in 1955
The series was named Queen Elizabeth II and included grapes, a copper pyrites mine, Troodos forest and carobs.

The photo is from Mystras, Peloponnese taken in late October when the oranges were not yet ripe. The castle of Mystras can be seen on the skyline.

Looking through the excellent index to THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN, the journal of The Mediterranean Garden Society, I am always pleased to come across an article which I haven’t recommended before. A citrus orchard is mentioned in
 THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 87, January 2017.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016: THREE DAYS IN CORFU
 by Helena Wiesner

According to a footnote to this article there are some photos to accompany it. I have not been able to find them. The old archives end at issue number 85 and the new format begins at 93. I hope this is still a Work In Progress

[Hilary]

Colchicum

A stamp issued by the Royal Mail in a four stamp series.

Unfortunately don’t have a photo of this flower but you can read about a purple Colchicum  here
 https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/45922/i-Colchicum-cilicicum-i-Purpureum/Details

Another article which I don’t think I have referred to before is
WHAT’S IN A NAME by Joanna Millar
In THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 20, April 2000.

[Fermi]

Hi Hilary,
here are a few colchicum in our garden
cheers
fermi

[Hilary]

Thanks for the photos

[Hilary]

Isopogon formosus subsp. dasylepis, Rose Coneflower

A stamp issued by Australia in 2015 in a four stamp Series named WILD FLOWERS There is plenty of information about this plant here
https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2004/isopogon-formosus.html

Rose Coneflower is not mentioned in THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN but as it grows in West Australia between Perth and Esperance, see the above link, I am pointing you to issue number 92, April 2018 for you to read
RIOT AND RESTRAINT – A GARDEN IN FREEMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA by Margot Tobin

[Fermi]

Hi Hilary,
I can assure you that this is a great genus for the Mediterranean garden - it grows in our garden in Central Victoria in a raised sand bed. This is a cultivar which we can grow but not the same as on the stamp!
cheers
fermi

[Charithea]

Hilary, thank you for the website .  I found the information helpful.  Also thank you Fermi for your photos.  I liked them a lot and especially the colour  of the flowers.   Maybe it will grow here.  Now for the seeds.

[Umbrian]

I agree Charithea, that would be a lovely addition a Mediterranean garden - good luck with searching out some seeds.

[Hilary]

Thanks for the photos Fermi.
It looks to be a lovely flower

[Alisdair]

Nindethana, an Australian firm, sells seed of several Isopogon species (and lots of other Australian plants), but for international orders your total order has to be at least 300 Australian dollars - nearly €200. Might be worth trying to put together a group order?